Diary Dates

COLLEGE EVENTS

The Life and Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sat 14 June

Tim Knight, the Principal of the Yorkshire College and Musical Director of Vocalis, will present an illustrated and informative talk on this great English composer. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain an insight into the background behind some of the works to be performed in the concerts taking place in Pannal and Harrogate (see below).

The talk starts at 1.00pm and the fee is £3.00 . Bookings can either be made online at www.harrogatevocalis.org.uk, or please send cheque made payable to Vocalis to P Crawford, 3 The Croft, Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge, York YO51 9YA.

Choral Composing and Arranging Workshop, 18-19 Aug

This is a useful course for aspiring composers, School and Church Music Directors and those simply wanting to explore different areas of composing, taught by the widely published and award winning Tim Knight (Principal of the Yorkshire College). When enrolling students can send a score and midi file for analysis although this is optional. Certain pieces may be selected for use in the choral workshop 20-22 August.

The course covers compass and range of voices, arranging for voices, study of set scores, how to achieve the best when writing for voices, different techniques, individual help with compositions, free composing time and analysis of submitted pieces.

Day 2 will look at finding texts, different vocal textures, analysis of scores, promoting your music, approaching publishers and performers, self publishing, making a CD, selling via the internet and gain time for composing.

The cost for one day is £40, for both days £65. You can book either online using Paypal at www.timknightmusic.com (follow the link to Summer Courses). Alternatively please send cheque made payable to The Yorkshire College of Music & Drama, 19 Shire Oak Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2DD.

Please send some details about your musical background to info@yorkshire-music-lessons.co.uk

If you require accommodation, there are a number of B&Bs in the area and full details will be sent with your booking confirmation.

Summer Choral Course, 20-22 Aug

Come and sing some fine music in the tranquil setting of the Yorkshire College situated in the centre of Headingley, Leeds.

Each day will start with a range of fun warm-ups and then continue into looking into repertoire by Rheinberger, Thompson, Knight, Rutter and others, and the course will culminate in a lunchtime concert.

Ideal for singers with some sight-singing ability and also for conductors looking for new rehearsal techniques.

The course will be led by Tim Knight, Principal of the Yorkshire College and an experienced and popular conductor. The signing will take place in a relaxed atmosphere and although it will be had work - rest assured it will be good fun!!

The course will commence at 9.30am each day with a 2 hour rehearsal with short break and then lunch. Each afternoon session will be at 1.30pm for a two hour rehearsal with short break. On the Friday there will be a rehearsal followed by a lunchtime concert of the music looked at in a local church, the course will finish after that lunchtime concert.

The full course fee is £56, with a reduced rate of £26 for students. All music will be provided. The closing date for enrolment is 10 July.

Bookings can either be made online using Paypal at www.timknightmusic.com (following the link to Summer Courses). Alternatively please send cheque made payable to The Yorkshire College of Music & Drama, 19 Shire Oak Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2DD.

Please send some details about your musical background to info@yorkshire-music-lessons.co.uk and also state whether you are Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass.

If you require accommodation, there are a number of B&Bs in the area and full details will be sent with your booking confirmation.

EVENTS AROUND THE REGION

Beyond the Unknown Region - a concert of Vaughan Williams’ sacred music, Sat 14 June

St Robert’s Church, Main Street, Pannal, Harrogate HG3 1JZ, www.strobertschurch.co.uk

This concert has been arranged as part of St Robert Church’s Flower Festival. The ticket price includes viewing of the flower arrangements and refreshments of strawberries and cream with a glass of wine. The music is performed by Vocalis, accompanied by Graham Bunting, and includes “Five Mystical Songs” and the anthems “O taste and see” and “O how amiable are thy dwellings”. The programme also features music by Tallis and Byrd who were both a great influence on Vaughan Williams. The concert concludes with a performance of the masterpiece “Toward the Unknown Region”.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £10.00 each. Bookings can either be made online at www.harrogatevocalis.org.uk, or please send cheque made payable to Vocalis to P Crawford, 3 The Croft, Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge, York YO51 9YA.

Song Recital, Sun 15 June

Wesley Methodist Church, Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1PP, www.wesleychapelharrogate.org.uk

Wesley church in Harrogate is the venue for our Sunday afternoon Song Recital as part of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Festival to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of one of England’s most loved composers. Members and friends of Vocalis will sing a variety of works by Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries.

The recital starts at 2.30pm and tickets are £5.00 each. Bookings can either be made online at www.harrogatevocalis.org.uk, or please send cheque made payable to Vocalis to P Crawford, 3 The Croft, Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge, York YO51 9YA.

Concert for Adult Learners, Stalybridge, Sat 19 July

Are you learning to play an instrument or sing?

There will be a concert for Adult music students at St Paul's Church Stalybridge on Saturday July 19th 2008.

This is an all day event (though you may arrive any time before the actual concert in the afternoon) at which you can meet with other adult learners and take part in an informal concert in front of a small, supportive audience. Performances are mostly solo or small ensemble items ( e.g. Duet/trio) but there will also be a grand finale piece in which performers are able to take part if they wish. This will be the 4th year for this popular event at which we have participants from as far afield as Kent and Dundee.

This is not primarily a platform for accomplished players and beginners and intermediate level players are especially welcome.

For further information, contact info@yorkshire-music-lessons.co.uk

Any surplus funds from this event will go to the local Branch of Volunteer Reading Help.

Vaughan Williams Memorial Concert, 11 Oct

United Reformed Church, Raglan Street, West Park, Harrogate HG1 1BL

Our year of celebration of the music of Vaughan Williams ends with a joint concert by Vocalis and The White Rose Concert Band. It will explore Vaughan Williams’ connection with the English Folk Song tradition. The band’s programme includes “The Folk Song Suite for Wind Band” by Holst, and Vocalis will sing a selection of part songs and folk song arrangements by Vaughan Williams and other English 20th century composers.

More details and booking information shortly. In the meantime, for further information about Vocalis, visit www.harrogatevocalis.org.uk